Garter and method of making the same



Feb. 7, 1933. H. A. PHILIPS GARTER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed April 28, 1932 S Y E N R 0 T. A

Patented Feb. 7, I933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANS ALBERT PHILIPS, orsTRATronn,

CONNECTICUT, Ass enorv TO AMERICAN FABRICS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT GARTER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Application filed April 28,

Such a garter consists of a permanently closed elastic band adapted to encircle the leg, with a tab depending from the band and provided with means for attachment to the hose. Heretofore, in garters of this class,

= the elastic band has been formed into a closed loop by abutting the ends of the band'and then joining them by means of a tape embracing said ends and stitched thereto. One of the disadvantages of this construction lies in the factthat a comparatively broad tape must be used, so that the stitching will not come so close to the out edges of the band as to pull out in service.

Another disadvantage of stitching the elastic band is that the stitching needle frequently pierces the rubber strands of the elastic webbing with the result that said strands are broken or weakened to such an extent that they break readily in service. In some cases, a reinforcing strip is attached to the band to secure the cut edges together, and over this strip is placed another, broader strip carrying the clasp members with which attachment is made to the hose. This calls for stitching not only of the inner reinforcing member, but also of the outer finishing member.

It is an object of my invention to provide much more economical and satisfactory construction wherein a comparatively narrow tape may be used to join the ends of the band and also to carry the clasp members. Instead of stitching the tape to the band, the parts are secured by means of an adhesive film placed between the band and the tape. This avoids the necessity of stitching and provides a very firm joint which will not pull out in service.

I am aware that in Patent No. 1,214,543, issued February 6, 1917, the idea of using a 1932. Serial No. 607,942.

liquid-adhesive on a garter is disclosed. In this instance, however, the adhesive is employed merely to prevent the elastic strands of the leg encircling band from pulling out of the webbing, and its objects is largely negated by the weakening effect of the needle piercing the rubber strands of the webbing. The adhesive is not strong enough to fasten the ends of the bands together, even though a reinforcing member. is placed over said ends while the adhesive is still moist and tacky. Hence, the reinforcing member must be stitched as well as glued to the band; finally over the reinforcing member is placed an other much broader tab member which is also stitched to the band to keep the band from tearingopen. In my invention noreinforcing member is used, no stitching whatsoever is requisite to hold the tab on the band, and no stitching is used to hold the ends of the band together. A

I have found that the use of a liquid adhesive is not satisfactory for this purpose, because the liquid permeates the fabric of theband as wellas that of the overlying tab and a large amount of liquid adhesive is wasted. It is impossible to confine the liquid when used in appreciable volume; it spreads by capillary attraction beyond the edges of the tab, producing unsightly smears. The 30 use of a liquid adhesive slows up the process of manufacture because the parts attached must be held tightly in contact until the adhesive becomes tacky. Because of the uncontrollable spread of the liquid adhesive one garter is likely to stick to another unless the garters are kept separated long enough for the adhesive to dry or harden.

The disadvantages enumerated above are avoided by my process in which I use a solid film between the parts that are to be joined, moistening this film with a solvent, so that the parts will adhere thereto almost instant- 1y. The solvent, however, is preferably a liquid and a non-adhesive so thatshould any of it spread beyond the joint or drip on the fabric it will not accumulate dust and dirt and will not stick to other fabric or objects with which it may come into contact. I find, for instance, that a very satisfactory film for the purpose is celluloid which may be applied in a very thin layer after dipping it in a nonadhesive liquid mixture of suitable solvents and diluents. The resulting joint is far stronger than any I have been able to obtain with liquid adhesives. The film although partially dissolved by the solvent does not penetrate deeply into the fabric but adheres largely to the surface fibers of both the elastic band and the tape or tab member, yet penetrates sufficiently to reach the rubber strands and hold these firmly in place, thus eliminating the unsightly appearance caused by pulling of the rubber strands in the elastic webbing. Thus, I effect an economy in the manufacture of the garter by using a narrower tape than is requisite in other constructions. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide an additional finishing member over the tape, because the adhesive film provides a very neat and clean joint without any sticky eXudations, and is amply strong enough to withstand service usage.

Another advantage of my invention consists in the fact that the film provides a relatively stiff joint which keeps the parts flat, preventing the elastic band from wrinkling and becoming stringy.

Another advantage of my process consists in the fact that the tape is cemented to the elastic band throughout its area of contact therewith and consequently any pull on the tape is evenly distributed throughout the contacting surface. In the case of a stitched tab, there is a tendency to concentrate the pull upon a few points in the stitching due to the fact that the stitches will stretch and yield more or less in service.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the following specification in which I describe my improved process of manufacture and a number of forms of garters embodying my invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a preferred embodiment of my invention, a portion thereof being torn away to reveal interior details;

Fig. 2 is a View in section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section similar to Fig. 2, but showing a different construction;

Fig. a is a fragmentary front elevation of another construction;

Fig. 5 is a View in section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of still another construction;

Fig. 7 is a View in section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are views in longitudinal section through the tab member of a garter, showing respectively two other forms of construction.

The garter shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a comparatively wide band 10 of elastic webbing adapted to encircle the leg of the wearer. The ends of the webbing are preferably cut on the bias, so that when the cut edges are abutted the circumference of the lower edge of the band will be greater than that of the upper edge, thus making the band conform to the contour of that portion of the leg about which it is to be worn.

A. tape 11 is folded over the abutting ends of the band 10 and is made fast thereto by intervening adhesive lilms 12 and 13, bear ing respectively against the rear and front faces of the band. This tape constitutes the tab of the garter and has the customary clasp members attached thereto. The tape is folded over the top of the leg band with one portion 15 against the front of the joint. The free end of the portion 1 1- is passed through the loop member 16 of a standard garter clasp and then is folded back upon itself, being secured in folded position by a strip 17 of adhesive film. The other portion 15 of the tape is passed through the loop member 16 and at its lower end carries the stand ard clasp button 125. In attaching the button to the tape, the latter is passed behind the base 1.) of the button and up over the lower edge of the base. Then it is threaded ti rough the usual slots in the base and the extremity of the tape is tucked downward between the base 19 and the body of the tape, being secured to the latter by a strip 20 of adhesive film.

In making up the garter, the clasp members are first secured to the tape. In other words, one free end of the tape is passed through the loop member 16 and then made fast by inserting between said free end and the body of the tape a strip of celluloid 17 dipped in a suitable non-adhesive solvent or solvents. \Vhen the parts pressed against the celluloid they will adhere thereto immediately. Similarly, the button portion is applied to the opposite extremity of the tape and made fast with a strip of celluloid dipped in solvent.

After the band 10 has been cut to the right length and the tape has been prepared, with the loop 16 attached to one end and the butten 18 to the other, the tape is positioned face downward and a piece of celluoid 12 is moistened in a suitable solvent and laid on the portion 14 of the tape. The cut edges of band 10 are brought into abutting engagement and laid on the strip 12. Pressure is then applied momentarily. A second piece of celluloid l3 moistened in a suitable solvent is then laid over the joint, after which the tape is folded on the band bringing the portion 15 into engagement with the celluloid strip 13 and pressure is again applied. The final step is to pass the part bearing button 18 through the loop portion 16 of the clasp.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 is simi lar to that described above, except'that the tab portion of the garter is differently arranged. The part 15 which carries the button 18 of the clasp passes directly up and to the rear of the band 10, while the part 1-l is folded over the front of the band. The free end of. part 14 is passed through the clasp loop 16 and then is tucked in between the band 10, and the portion 15. In making up this garter, the abutting ends of the 10 are first applied to the portion 1 1 and made fast thereto by an intervening strip 13 of celluloid moistened in a solvent. After the portion 14 has been applied its free end is passed through the clasp loop 16 and then it is secured to the rear face of the band 10 by means of a small strip of celluloid 21. After this the portion 15 of the tab is made fast to the rear of the joint with an intervening strip 12 of celluloid and this completes the making of the garter. The button por ion 18 is preferably but not neces sarily applied to the tab portion 15 before the tab is applied to the garter.

The construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 differs from that previously described; mainly in the fact that the clasp members are secured to the tab by means of stitching. The tab, however, is secured to the garter in the manner described; namely, by the use of a suitable adhesive film. Thus, in constructing the garter as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tab is prepared by first passing a tape 22 through the base 19 of a button 18 and then carrying the front and rear portions of the tape upward and passing the front portion through the loop 16 f the clasp. A line of stitching 23 connecting the front and rear portions of the tape serves to hold the loop in the proper position with respect to the but ton 18. In applying the tab to the garter. the front portion of the tape 22 is first applied over the abutting ends of the band 10 and secured thereto by an intervening strip of celluloid, and then the rear portion is applied over the joint in the band 10 and secured thereto by means of a celluloid strip 12. The front portion of the tape is long enough to be folded over the upper edge of the joint and it is made fast to the garter band 10 on the rear face thereof by pressing it down upon the strip of celluloid 12.

The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is very similar to that shown in Figs. 4c and except that instead of securing the loop member 16 by means of a line of stitching 23 joining the front and rear portions of the tape, a loop 24 is formed in the front portion of the tape about the upper crossbar 16a of the member 16 and this loop 24ris then sewed with a line of stitching 25. This provides a somewhat stronger construction because the pull on the member 16 which takes place when fastening the clasp to the hose, is in a downward direction and in the case of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 it has a tendency to split the seam 23, whereas in the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the pull is taken more directly by the loop 24 and there is not as great a strain on the stitching 25. I

The construction shown in Fig. 8 is some what similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 except that no stitching is employed. The tab comprises a tape 26 which passes through the button member and then forward and upward through the loop member. The tape is secured to the front face of the band over the abutting ends thereof by means of the celluloid strip 13. Then it continues over the top of the band 10 and passes down to the rear of the band to which it is secured by means of a celluloid strip 12, terminating finally at a point somewhat short of the clasp button. The end of the tape is then made fast to the main body of the tape immediately below the crossbar 16a of the member 16 by means of a strip of celluloid 28. This done the button 18 is slid along the tape until it comes to the proper position thereon, after which the lower end of the tape is folded upward and secured against the opposite end of the tapeby means ofa strip of celluloid 29. An advantage of, this construction is that the position of the clasp members may be adjusted during the making of the garter to compensate for any variations that might occur in the depth of the joint formed in the band member 10.

In the construction shown in Fig. 9 both the loop member and the button member of the clasp are attached to the tab by means of sewing. One end of a tape 30 is looped about the cross-bar 16a of clasp member 16 and is fastened by means of a line of stitching 31, while the other end of the tape passes through the slots in the base of the button member 18 and the extremity is then made fast by a line of stitching 32. After the tape is thus formed it is applied over the joint in the band 10 in the manner described above. Preferably, the portion through which the loop 16 is attached is applied to the joint first and then the garter is inverted and the opposite portion bearing the button 18 is applied over the joint.

It will be observed that in all these constructions 11o stitching whatsoever is used in applying the tab to the garter and while some stitching is used in certain forms to fasten the clasp members to the tabs it is possible by my construction to avoid even such sewing and provide a garter in which there is no sewing whatsoever used.

While I have referred to the member 10 as being an elastic band. obviously my invention is not limited to such material but I could use any flexible material to suit requirements. Furthermore, while I referred to celluloid as a suitable film, obviously my invention is not.

limited to such an adhesive film but is broad enough to include any solid film moistened by a solvent at the time or immediately prior to the time of applying it to oin the members of the garter. I also contemplate the use of an open ended or adjustable leg band to which any of the tabs illustrated and described above may be secured by means of a film moistened in a suitable solvent. In other words, the tab may or may not be used to join the ends of the band. Thus, while I have described a number of embodiments of my invention these are to be construed as illustrative and not limitative, and I consider myself at liberty to make such changes in form, arrangement, and construction as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim 1. The method of attaching a tab member to the leg encircling member of a garter, which comprises the steps of moistening a film of adhesive material in a non-adhesive solvent for said material, laying the film on one of said members, laying the other of said members upon the film, and pressing the two members together.

2. T 1e method of attachin a tab member to the leg encircling member of a garter which comprises the steps of superficially dissolving a film of adhesive material with a non-adhesive liquid solvent for said material, laying the film on one of said members, laying the other of said members upon the film, and pressing the two members together.

3. The method of making a garter, which comprises the steps of abutting the ends of a band of flexible material to form aclosed leg encircling member, applying a strip of flexible material over said abutting ends, and securing the strip to the band with an intervening film of celluloid moistened with a nonadhesive solvent for celluloid.

4. The method of making a garter, which comprises the steps of moistening a film of adhesive material in a suitable solvent, applying the film upon a tab, abutting the ends of a band of flexible material to form a closed leg encircling member, laying said abutting ends upon the film, and pressing the parts together.

5. The method of making a garter, which comprises the steps of moistening a film of adhesive material in a suitable solvent, applying the film upon a tab, laying the ends of a leg encircling band in abutting engagement on the film, folding the tab over the opposite face of the band, and ecuring the tab to said face with a film of adhesive material moistened in a solvent.

6. The method of making a garter, which comprises the steps of securing a clasp loop to one free end of a tab, securing a clasp button to the other free end of the tab, laying the tab in inverted position, moistening a film of adhesive material in a solvent, ap-

plying said film to the inverted face of the tab, laying the ends of a leg encircling band in abutting engagement on said film, folding the clasp bearing portion of the tab over the band, securing said portion to the oppo site face of the band with another portion of the film, and passing the button bearing portion of the tab through the clasp loop.

7. The method of making a garter, which comprises the steps of passing one end of a tab through a clasp loop, cementing said end to the body of the tab with celluloid moistened in a solvent, threading the other end of the tab through the slotted base of a clasp button, cementing the latter end to the body of the tape with celluloid moistened in said solvent. abutting the ends of a band of elastic webbing to form a closed loop, folding the tab about opposite faces of the band over said abutting ends, and cementing the tab to said opposite faces with celluloid moistened in said solvent.

8. A garter comprising a leg encircling band, a tab, and an intervening film of celluloid cementing the tab to the band and providing the sole means of attachment of the tab to the band.

9. A garter con'iprising a band of elastic webbing with the ends thereof in abutting V gen'ient to form a closed loop, a tab folded about opposite faces of the band over said ends, a film of celluloid intervening between the tab and each face of the band and providing the sole means of attachment of the tab to the band, a clasp loop on one free end of the tab, and a clasp button on the other free end of the tab.

10. A garter comprising a band of elastic webbing with the ends thereof in abutting engagement to form a closed loop, a tab folded about opposite faces of the band over said ends, celluloid film intervening between and cementing the tab to each face of the band, said film providing the sole means of attachment of the tab to the band, a clasp loop, and a clasp button having a slotted base, one end of the tab being passed through the clasp loop and cemented to the body of tne tab with an intervening film of celluloid, and the other free end of the tab being threaded through the slotted base and cemented to the body of the tab with another intervening film of celluloid.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

HANS ALBERT PHILIPS. 

